Police nab wanted kidnap leader Abubakar Usman in Delta, recover AK-47 rifles

The Nigeria Police Force has announced the arrest of wanted kidnapping suspect Abubakar Usman, popularly known as “Shehu,” who was identified as the alleged leader of a kidnapping syndicate operating in Delta State.

According to the police, Usman was apprehended during an intelligence-led operation in April 2025. Following his arrest, he reportedly led investigators to the gang’s hideout located in a forest along the Asaba–Agbor Expressway.

Police said the operation turned violent when officers came under attack from other members of the criminal group, resulting in a gun battle.

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During the exchange of fire, four suspected members of the gang were killed, while security operatives successfully secured the area.

The police also disclosed that three AK-47 rifles and a quantity of ammunition were recovered from the hideout during the operation.

Authorities described the arrest as a significant breakthrough in ongoing efforts to dismantle kidnapping networks operating in Delta State and surrounding areas. Investigations into the activities of the gang were said to be ongoing, with the police reiterating their commitment to combating violent crime across the country.